August 17, 2011

Blank Generation: Ivan Julian live at WFMU (mp3s)

In the Voidoids, he and Bob Quine comprised what was probably the fiercest guitar duo in punk's infancy. And just last week, Ivan Julian turned in a solid WFMU performance on Terre T's Cherry Blossom Clinic as both he and his band tore through a number of covers and originals from his new alb, The Naked Flame (2:59 Records).

Fans of his work in the Voidoids, Outsets and beyond will be stoked to hear that time hasn't tamed Julian one bit. His guitar's still as sinewy and caustic as it ever was, and his band brings up the rear with some real panache. They pull out a surprising and great cover of the Nuns' "The Beat," not to mention a haunting original, "You Is Dead." Hell, the whole set's rife with those trebly strangulations that Julian harnessed throughout his time in LES's punk and no-wave heydays -- and those that son Austin Julian continues to harness in his own no-wave unit, Sediment Club -- but they sound just as vital as ever. So have a listen, chum. And don't forget to catch one of his upcoming live shows, three of which are with Radio Birdman's Deniz Tek (who'll make his own trip to WFMU's Three Chord Monte on Aug 25th):